Date night: Fion Wine & Spirits

The basics: Unlike some of the raucous bars along Diversey Avenue in Lakeview, Fion Wine & Spirits is a sedate, intimate neighborhood spot. Beer ($5-$7.50) is served in a glass. There are no buffalo wings on the menu. The tin ceilings, marble floors and granite bar exude elegance. This place has character. Other bargoers respectfully remain in the company with which they came, so you and your date can nestle undisturbed on the shadowy padded booths along the wall. 

Noise level: Even weekend nights here are good for quiet conversation. The background music remains in its place, and though there are flat-screen TVs, the volume is usually muted. What to order: See that interesting apparatus along the back wall? Wine connoisseurs call it by name: Enomatic Wine System. The rest of us can just think of it as a very cool 16-bottle storage system that maintains exact temperatures, ensures freshness and dispenses accurate pours ($8-$15).

If you’re a wine newbie, no worries. Fion’s servers are happy to teach you a little bit about the wines, which generally come from small, family-owned vineyards. They encourage everyone to taste. If you’re undecided, order a flight ($15) and allow your server to choose your pours.

Not a wine lover? That’s where the spirits come in. Try the house specialty gimlet ($8), made with fresh lime juice, simple syrup and Ketel One vodka, served in a powdered sugar-rimmed glass. If you want to go ultra-classic, a dirty martini ($10) with Ketel One and a hand-stuffed blue cheese olive is in order. 

Icebreaker: Fion is a Gaelic word for wine. The owners chose the name (which they pronounce fee-OWN) in part because Fion’s sister bar, Maeve, takes its name from a Gaelic term meaning "she who intoxicates."

Gina B.'s inside tips

>>Park in the St. Joseph’s Hospital lot a half-block north of Diversey Parkway off Sheridan Road. Ask the bartender for a token to exit the lot for just $6.

>>Fion’s official Web site isn’t up yet. In the meantime, you can friend Fion Wine & Spirits on Facebook for updates on events.

>>The menu is still a work in progress—light appetizers are coming soon.